Editorial Report Card: A for the fair, WCU growth

The Report Card issues grades A through F, and incompletes where necessary, to a variety of news items in this space. Got an idea that makes the grade? Send it to JBuchanan@CITIZEN-TIMES.com

A to the return of the North Carolina Mountain State Fair, which kicks off today for a 10-day run, through Sept. 16, at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center near Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher. Last year's fair pulled 180,531 through the gates, spokesman Ron Stamey said. The midway carnival will bring about 40 attractions, including the chairlift that sweeps across the length of the fairgrounds. This year's edition will have a focus on local entertainment; Nikki Talley and the Leigh Glass Band will perform each night, with three groups total on weekend nights and two on weeknights. The mountain music shows will continue on the Heritage Music Stage. The fair will also feature traditional fare such as livestock and farming exhibitions. The livestock shows include cattle, sheep, swine, llamas, chickens, rabbits and turkeys in competition. Other contests include baked goods, preserves, photography, quilting and a sweet potato competition. The Haywood Community College Timber Sports Team will show off lumberjack skills at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. this Friday-Sunday.

A to Western Carolina University for setting a new enrollment record. WCU topped 9,600 in total enrollment, fueled largely by an increase of nearly 3 percent in the size of the freshman class and an improvement in the university's retention rate. The number of first-time, full-time freshmen at WCU this fall is 1,551, up 2.85 percent from the fall 2011 freshman class of 1,508. The university's freshman retention rate - the percentage of first-time, full-time undergraduate students who return for their sophomore year - is 73.67 percent, an improvement over last year's retention rate of 72.03 percent, said Melissa Wargo, assistant vice chancellor for planning and effectiveness. The numbers are particularly impressive in that they come during a time when the institution - and the families of students attending it - have been dealing with tight budgets.

F to word from the Pentagon's inspector general that efforts through the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act to assist voters in the military are falling short. According to the website Talking Points Memo, MOVE Act requirements mandate establishing a voting assistance office at every military installation that isn't in a war zone; however, the Department of Defense inspector general tried contacting the offices and was able to contact only about half. TPM quoted the inspector as saying, "We concluded the Services had not established all the [installation voting assistance offices] as intended by the MOVE Act because, among other issues, the funding was not available." It's an issue that sorely needs to be addressed. Eric Eversole, founder and executive director of the Military Voter Protection Project, was quoted on TPM in a written statement as saying, "While military voters have long suffered from low participation rates, these numbers are extremely disappointing given the comprehensive reform passed by Congress in 2009. That law should have increased military voter participation, not decreased it." Speaking of funding shortfalls?

F to a new analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities that found, 26 states, including NorthCarolina, will spend less per pupil in fiscal year 2013 than they spent in 2012. Adjusted for inflation, Tar Heel students will receive $148 less in fiscal year 2013 than 2012, the eighth-steepest cut in the country. By comparison, South Carolina is boosting spending $207 per student.

A to professor Joseph Bathanti of Appalachian State University for being named as North Carolina's new Poet Laureate. Bathanti, a long-time advocate for literacy, poet and author, will become North Carolina's seventh poet laureate; his installation ceremony, open to the public, will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh. Among Bathanti's notable deeds is a 35-year record of teaching writing workshops in prisons. He is former chairman of the N.C. Writers' Network Prison project.

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Editorial Report Card: A for the fair, WCU growth

The Report Card issues grades A through F, and incompletes where necessary, to a variety of news items in this space.